Team Niagara begins with a departure

NIAGARA FALLS ARS, N.Y. -- A KC-135 aerial-refueling tanker departs from Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station for the last time Jan. 23. The New York Air National Guard's 107th will change its mission and its aircraft this spring. This is the first of the unit's aircraft to depart following reassignment. The 107th will work alongside the Air Force Reserve's 914th Airlift Wing as part of the Air Force Reserve's "Associate" concept. In an associate base units will share people, resources and processes to accomplish their flying missions. "Team Niagara" will feature the 914th as host to the 107th this year with both units flying reserve C-130H2s. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Dan Lanphear)

Reserve unit swaps planes to get more birds sooner

Published Feb. 20, 2008

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Air Force Reserve Command will swap C-130s to accelerate the consolidation of missions and equipment at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y.

Beginning this spring, the 914th Airlift Wing at Niagara will exchange its eight C-130H3 airlifters for eight C-130H2 airlifters from the 934th Airlift Wing, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport ARS, Minn. Another four C-130H2 airlifters will arrive at Niagara from the Air National Guard's 118th AW, Nashville, Tenn.

When the transfers are complete sometime this summer, both the 914th AW and Air National Guard's 107th Air Refueling Wing at Niagara will share 12 C-130H2 under an air reserve component associate structure. The 914th will own the aircraft, with the Guard providing aircrews and maintainers in the associate relationship.

The swap will leave Niagara with an earlier version of the venerable C-130; however, the unit will get the planes two years ahead of schedule. Original plans were for the 914th to operate with eight planes for the next two years. The swap will give them the full complement of 12 planes sooner than expected.

Additionally, the base will operate with one type of cargo plane, which Air Force officials said will reduce training and maintenance costs.

The 107th ARW is in the process of transferring its KC-135 refueling aircraft elsewhere and taking on the C-130 mission. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)